The House Has A Lord

“This House has a Lord” – وإن للبيت ربا

When King Abraha entered Makkah with his army of Elephants, to destroy the Ka’bah, he took some camels that belonged to Abdul-Mutalib – who was the guardian of the Ka’bah and the grandfather of our Prophet.

Abdul-Mutalib went to him, to take back his camels.

King Abraha was surprised, saying:

“You talk to me about your camels and not about the Ka’bah which I’m about to destroy?”

Abdul-Mutalib said:

إني أنا رب الإبل ، وإن للبيت ربا سيمنعه
“These camels belonged to ME,
The Ka’bah belongs to its LORD,
Who will protect it.”

[“Sirah al-Nabawiyah”, by Ibn Kathir – page 18].

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That’s what Surah Fil (Chapter 105) of the Qur’an is about.

The birds started flocking around the Ka’bah and attacking the army of Abraha, until they were destroyed.